Ryan Bertrand says Southampton deserve their plaudits
Ryan Bertrand and Fraser Forster are confident Southampton can continue their fine Premier League form and challenge for European football.
The Saints followed up their 8-0 thrashing of Sunderland with a 1-0 win against Stoke on Saturday, the three points enough to lift them above champions Manchester City into second place.
They have won six of their last seven Premier League outings and both Bertrand and Forster feel there is belief in the squad that they can achieve something special this season, one that started with worries about replacing the likes of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers.
Bertrand, a summer arrival on loan from Chelsea, said: "The boys have been working really hard and we deserve to be where we are going on from the start of the season and long may that continue.
"It’s difficult to believe when you look at it from the outside when you lose a lot of your players and more so losing your manager because that can really change your team.
"But the people behind the scenes here at Southampton have brought in a world class manager and some world class players so for me when I came and I saw the players training and what they are capable of, it’s no surprise to me (how well we are doing).
"It’s no fluke. We’ve proved that over time. We’ve been consistent with our victories, consistent with our goals and consistent with our clean sheets so it’s down to us to keep it going."
England keeper Forster said: "Ever since the summer we’ve had great belief and great team unity and that’s been crucial (in our success).
"All the new lads have come in and settled really well and it’s been a really positive start but we’re aware it’s only a start and there’s a long way to go but obviously we can be pleased with what we’ve done up until this point.
"We’ve got our feet firmly planted on the floor and we’re only looking one game at a time and preparing to the maximum of our ability for the game that s coming next and for us it’s just about taking it one week at a time and we’ll see where it takes us."